Saturday, November 21, 2009

So goal #99 was to read or see A Clockwork Orange. Since I decided to read the book, it also meets goal #100 because it is a banned book.

Two or three people made comments when I mentioned I was going to read A Clockwork Orange. Universally, their response was about how much they hated the book or movie.

I wouldn't say I hated the book, but I didn't enjoy it either. Of course it's not the kind of book that's supposed to be enjoyed, I think.

Honestly, I see why it's considered 'literature'. It has blatant themes and symbols, heavy moralizing and political commentary, and difficult to read writing style. It's Catch 22/Brave New World as written by Jack Kerouac.

It reads like 'On the Road' but with way too much made up slang. It was the fictious slang that got to me. I've read a lot of fantasy and sci-fi, and so I understand the need to 'world build' through language choice. But this was just absurd. When half of the words in the sentence a completely made up, it's not creative. Given how rich a language English is, I feel it's a poor reflection on the writer if he needs to make up that much crap. There's a point where it stops adding character and starts detracting from the story and Burgess passed it.

I'd like to say that the book reminded me of what I think of as 'classical anime': a good story that's killed at the end when the author heavy-handedly shovels in an overbearing moralistic commentary. Unfortunately, A Clockwork Orange didn't have a good story (or really much of a story) to start with. And Burgess didn't really wait that long to start shoveling.

I'd say file and forget, but at least it's a book that might be worth making cultural or literary allusions to if I'm ever forced into a conversation with a pretentious litterary nut.

Sunday, November 8, 2009

As part of moving, I cleaned out my clothes closet. I had a friend along to help -- she made sure I got rid of the stuff that was old, didn't fit, didn't look good on me, or didn't get worn. Afterwards, she made a list of stuff I should not buy any more of, and she right.

No more buying:

Cardigans

Shells

Black, white, or black and white skirts

Neutral toned tops (beige, brown, tan, cream, black, etc.)

Shapeless or baggy clothing.

There more stuff that I really should replace -- sweaters and sweaters come to mind -- but that's not a priority right now.

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Goal #31 - Get an IUD: Done. I really like it. Aside from the excruciating pain on insertion and a days worth of cramping afterwords, I've had no problems. 5 years of not having to think about birth control. Woot!

Goal #77: A weekend with no computer: One weekend down. I'm not sure if being sick made this easier or harder, though it did help having stuff planned for one of the days. While not using a computer does prevent wasting time on-line, it doesn't prevent wasting time.

Goal #82: Buy a condo: Done. Everything's signed and official. We're now in debt again.

Goal #85: Paint a room: Well, more like get a room painted. We got the entire place painted so it now has personality and color.

101 Goals in 1001 Days List

Food Related1. [Done]Make at least 2 different kinds of cheese, [1,2] (1/2)2.[Done] Preserve at least two foods by canning or pickling, or freezing [1][2](1/2)3. [Done] Make no-knead bread4. [Done] Make butter5. Make yogurt6. Make jam (that keeps)7. Make jerky8. Make a soufflé9. [Done] Pack lunch every day for a week10. [Done] Try 10 new foods [1,2] [3,4], [5,6,7][8],[9], [10]11. Enter a cooking/recipe contest

Crafts12. Knit or crochet a pair of socks13. Design and sew a quilt14. Make dipped and molded candles (0/2)15. Make paper16. Make soap17. Make lip balm18. [Done] Make Chocolates (was make gourd bowl)19. Make and fly a box kite20. Finish stain glass box21. [Done] Finish knitted sweater22. Carve something (out of wood or soap)

Art & Writing44. Write a song (instrumental) for piano or psaltery45. Write and submit a non-academic math article46. Paint a picture47. Draw (charcoal/pencil) picture48. Calligraphy a poem or saying49. Submit crossword puzzle for publication50. Revise and submit math article51. Write a short story (fan fic okay)52. Design a new board game

Buy53. Be fitted for a bra and replace ones that don't fit54. Spend $250 on something completely self-indulgent55. Get at least one piece of jewelry for specific outfit and wear it

Maintenance/Household56. [done] Sort through clothes closet57. [done] Organize bookmarks (was Set up an IRA)58. Digitalize CD collection59. Trade 2 games not played for new games60. [done] Get my laptop working properly